WILL Voigt gets a chance to coach the Filipinos in a major international tournament. AFP

After boosting its roster with world-class talents in Kai Sotto and Andray Blatche, Mighty Sports waged another recruiting coup when it tapped former Angolan national team head coach Will Voigt to be part of its coaching staff in the Dubai International Basketball Tournament in Dubai next year.

Head coach Charles Tiu stressed that they already reached an agreement with Voigt, the American mentor who steered Angola to a resounding victory over Gilas Pilipinas in the group stage of the FIBA Basketball World Cup last August in China.

It is no secret that Voigt wants to coach in the Philippines.

In a previous statement, he said he is very much willing to handle the Filipinos in the international stage, joining the likes Rajko Toroman of Serbia and Tab Baldwin of New Zealand as the latest foreigners to handle the national squad.

In fact, he tried his luck to land a job in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) when team owner Manny Pangilinan seriously considered him to handle the TNT KaTropa.

Unfortunately, he didn’t get the position and former New Zealand national squad point guard Mark Dickel was tapped as active consultant.

Prior to that, Voigt also went to Manila in 2009 and returned in 2017 to help Phoenix Pulse, which was handled by his friend Ariel Vanguardia, in its preparation for the PBA Governors’ Cup.

But no job offer was given, leaving him with a strong desire to coach in the local professional league.

“Who knows, I’m open to any offer,” said Voigt, who also powered Nigeria to the Afrobasket crown in 2016 that sent it to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

“I love the Philippines and I love basketball there so you’ll never know. Maybe there will be an opportunity for me down there.”

Now, Mighty Sports is giving him a chance.

And it could unlock the doors of the national squad for him to enter.

“That’s what he’s been hoping for,” said Tiu, who tapped Toroman as his assistant last year.

“I think Will Voigt will be a great asset to our team. He has great experience in international basketball and is widely respected in the international stage. I’m really excited to work with him.”

The 43-year-old Voigt has a stacked resume that could help Mighty Sports improve its third-place finish last year.

He, for one, was the genius behind Angola’s 84-81 overtime win over Gilas Pilipinas in th FIBA Basketball World Cup aside from serving as assistant coach for Texas and Metro State before calling the shots for Ulrike Elite in Norway, Vermont Frost Heaves and Bakersfield Jam in the NBA G-League.

“I am always excited to learn from foreign coaches and try to get better,” Tiu said, adding that Voigt is still interested to coach in the Philippines.

“He wants to come out here to be familiar with how things work because he really wants to coach our national team. I know him personally and I reached out to him. I hope a good finish in Dubai could be the start of something good for him.”